The Ainsworth School Julia Reimann Field

In collaboration with the Reimann family over 40 volunteers have been working towards installing a soft surface multi-use field in honor of Julia.

Here you will find the latest information on Field Design, Timeline, Budget, Fundraising and more. If you have any questions you can reach us via email at the “Contact Us” tab at the top of this page. Or if you have thoughts or ideas to share please feel free to do so by selecting “comment” at the bottom of each blog.

Liz Casson-Taylor, principal of Ainsworth, has expressed her support of this project.  In addition, Portland Public Schools has declared its support of the project and assigned a Project Manager and Coordinator who are dedicated to working on the Julia Reimann Field.

In preparation for our Fund Raising efforts the Volunteer Committee has prepared a multi-media comprehensive presentation for large and small groups, individuals, foundations and corporations.

In addition, Giuseppe Lipari of Studio Lipari has graciously donated his talent and time to establishing a web-site for the Julia Reimann Field which you are viewing now. The site will be updated as the Field Project progresses.

Momentum is growing in the area of Fundraising. WRG Design (an Engineering and Professional Services Consulting Firm) has donated talent, time, office space, printing, and more to this project. In addition, Robinson Construction has donated equipment, labor and material for the site preparation of the Field at Ainsworth.  In-kind contributions from WRG and Robinson amount to well over $100,000.

Contibutions to the Julia Reimann Field project are tax deductable and the Fundraising Committee continues to work on all donor options beyond local contributors. We are focusing on Foundations, Corporations and individual donors who are friends of Julia and her family. We also have a simple Pay Pal option on this website for immediate tax deductible contributions.

The Neighborhood Outreach Committee has just completed an out-reach effort to the houses neighboring Ainsworth in December. Volunteers walked the area and visited over 20 houses along Elm Street, Spring Street, Montgomery Drive, St. Helen’s Court and east of Vista. We received and incorporated positive feedback from many interested people.

Also, SWHRL (Southwest Hills Residential League), the neighborhood organization that surrounds Ainsworth, has given its full support to the Julia Reimann Field. A meeting is being planned to the Field Committee, Ainsworth PTA, the Ainsworth Foundation and SWHRL on January 21st,  2009  from 7-9pm in the auditorium at Ainsworth. This will roll-out the project in detail to the broader community.

Field Placement

We have settled on a field placement in the northwest corner of the back field. This area imposes the least impact on current structures - it keeps both play structures in tact, does not impact the Wall Ball courts on the south side, keeps the tether ball courts, and allows for potential school expansion. With this placement, the kick-ball field in the NW part of the back field will be played on soft-turf, the NW backstop will likely be removed.

Field Design

The field will be a 120′ by 90′ rectangle with a 5′ buffer zone. So the total soft-surface area will be 130′ by 100′. The total square footage of 13,000 will account for about 25% of the back field area when including the space under the covered court. The lines on the field will be minimal to allow for multiple use - line placement has not been finalized.

The field is being designed with the intent of applying for a Conditional Use Permit with the city to allow for recreational use on week-ends and evenings (i.e. Soccer and T-ball games and practices).

Public institution outreach

The Design Team has talked to Portland Fire Marshall, Portland Public Schools (PPS), and the City of Portland. The Fire Marshall as well as the Fire Station across the street from the school have been appraised of the project.

The team has met with the City of Portland’s various bureaus in an “”Early Assistance Meeting” meeting that gave us valuable insight on some of the hurdles that might arise during the permitting process. We are addressing those issues now so that we won’t be surprised in March of next year when we submit a site development permit application. As a result of some of this work, the City of Portland has waived a substantial storm water management fee in support of the project.